# Senior RF & Antenna Systems Engineer

**Company:** [Northwood Space](https://hotfix.jobs/companies/northwood-space)
**Location:** Los Angeles, CA
**Role:** Hardware Engineering
**Salary:** $170k – $230k/yr
**Experience:** 5+ years
**Skills:** MATLAB, Python, Rust, Phased Arrays, Beamforming, Rf Systems, Antenna Theory, Electromagnetics, Link Budget Analysis, Vector Network Analyzers, Spectrum Analyzers, Signal Generators
**Posted:** 2026-04-30

> Designs and evaluates advanced RF and antenna systems for satellite communications, including phased arrays and beamforming. Conducts performance analysis, modeling, testing, and collaboration across RF, DSP, and hardware teams. Requires 5+ years RF experience and strong electromagnetics foundation.

## Job Description

## Responsibilities
- Analyze RF system and communication link performance, deriving top-level specifications for antenna systems, RF front ends, and signal processing architectures
- Evaluate and develop antenna system architectures, including phased arrays and adaptive beamforming strategies
- Model system-level RF, link budgets, and signal processing behavior to guide beamforming architectures, modem implementations, and system trade studies, including measured aperture performance in complex electromagnetic environments
- Design and analyze antenna systems, pointing and tracking strategies, aperture calibration and performance optimization
- Plan and execute integrated system tests focused on physical-layer performance such as G/T, EIRP, link margin, and modem performance metrics
- Investigate RF system and link performance issues through measurement, modeling, and cross-disciplinary debugging
- Work with RF, antenna, DSP, and communications engineers to translate algorithmic concepts into practical RF system implementations
- Support regulatory submissions, link performance analysis, and operational RF system design

## Basic Qualifications
- Bachelor's or Master's degree in Electrical Engineering, Applied Physics, or related discipline
- 5+ years experience modeling and analyzing RF systems, antenna systems, or communication links
- Strong foundation in electromagnetics, antenna theory, and RF system design
- Experience with MATLAB, Python, Rust, or similar tools for RF system or signal-processing analysis
- Experience with RF test equipment such as vector network analyzers, spectrum analyzers, and signal generators

## Preferred Experience
- Experience with phased arrays, beamforming systems, or advanced antenna architectures
- Strong understanding of beamforming theory, array factor, and electromagnetic propagation
- Experience performing link budget analysis and communication system trade studies
- Familiarity with modem architectures and physical-layer performance metrics
- Familiarity with radar systems, RF sensing systems, or electromagnetic warfare concepts
- Experience in RF lineup design, including amplifier linearity and filter isolation tradeoffs
- Experience analyzing metrics such as BER, EVM, noise figure, and dynamic range
- Experience building analysis tools in Python or similar languages

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